TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS ELEMENTS AND THEIR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

Md. Inzamul Haque Sazalsazalgeo@outlook.com

Toxic waste is waste

material that can cause death, injury or birth defects to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes, rivers, and the atmosphere. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.

Dioxins: - Produced by burning chlorine-containing substances, plastics; the manufacture of iron and steel, and some organic chemicals. Heavy metals:- Widespread industrial use, such as in cadmium and nickle plating. Found in batteries (mercury, cadmium, lead) and leaded petrol.Radioactive waste: - By-product of nuclear power generation and used in medicine (e.g. cancer therapy).

EXAMPLES OF TOXIC WASTES

Hazardous Wastes are

poisonous byproducts of manufacturing, farming, city septic systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals and other industries. The waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Even households generate hazardous waste from items such as batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides.

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTECAR BATTERIES

LIGHT BULBS

PESTICIDES

USED MOTOR OIL

A substance will be Hazardous waste if it is1. Reactive (flash point >60 degree C)2. Corrosive (pH <2 or >12.5)3. Flammable(ignitable) 4. Toxic

A toxic waste is only waste that when ingested or adsorbed ,is harmful or fatal to living organism

So Hazardous waste may be sometimes toxic

But toxic waste always be Hazardous waste

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOXIC & HAZARDOUS WASTE

1. Listed Wastes: Wastes that EPA has determined are hazardous. The lists include the F-list (wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes), K-list (wastes from specific industries), and P- and U-lists (wastes from commercial chemical products)

2. Characteristic Wastes: Wastes that do not meet any of the listings above but that exhibit ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.

3. Universal Wastes: Batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment (e.g., thermostats) and lamps (e.g., fluorescent bulbs).

4. Mixed Wastes: Waste that contains both radioactive and hazardous waste components.

4 CATAGORIES OF TOXIC & HAZARDOUS WASTE

*Hazardous waste may be of two types1. Designated waste (listed waste)2. Characteristics waste

Designated waste is one that is specifically listed by USEPA as Hazardous.

While characteristics waste is one that exhibits any one of the characteristics of ignitability , corrosiveness , reactivity and toxicity OR Wastes that do not meet any of the listings type wastes but that exhibit ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.

TYPES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

EPA designates more than 450 listed wastes which are specific substances or classes of substances known to beHazardous , classified into four groups OR lists

1. F-type wastes from nonspecific sources2. K-type wastes from specific sources3. P-type acute hazardous wastes4. U-Type miscellaneous hazardous wastes

DESIGNATED WASTE (listed waste) TYPES

DETERMINATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTETwo Approaches:

1. Common Management.

2. SUSTAINABLE Management

MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont.)

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY:

1. Waste minimization.2. Detoxification & neutralization of waste by

treatments.3. Destruction of combustible waste by

incineration.4. Solidification of sludge & ash from steps

from 2 & 3.5. Disposal of residues in landfills.

1.WASTE MINIMIZATION:

Helps in resource conservation, economic efficiency & environmental protection.

The strategies include— source reduction, recycling and waste exchange

MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

2. TREATMENT METHODS:PhysicalChemical and biological treatment

MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

3. INCINERATIONIncineration is a disposal method in which solid organic wastes are subjected to combustion so as to convert them into residue and gaseous products.

Able to achieve 99.99% destruction & removal efficiency of hazardous components in waste.

Primary products are CO2, vapour & ash Sulphur bearing wastes gives off SO2, CO2, H2O when

incinerated. By products of incomplete combustion are sometimes more

harmful. Two types of incinerators: liquid injection system, rotary kilns.

4.Solidification or Stabilization: Convert the waste into an insoluble, rock hard material. Additive materials used to reduce the mobility of pollutants in

the waste. Certain materials like nickel cannot be destroyed or detoxified

by above methods. The residues that are left out are solidified to reduce the

leachability.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

5.Disposal Methods: The options for disposal include land disposal, underground

disposal & deep well injection. The choice of disposal method should be based on evaluation

of economics & potential pollution risks. To prevent environmental pollution from landfills , it is

essential that site c/s are taken into account.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY INCINERATOR

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

**Alternative of deadly disposal method.

**Assure of both economic and Environmental benefit.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…) # Buy foods with less packaging# Bring your own bags for carrying groceries- no paper OR plastic# Bring your own bottles/cups# Look for products that use fewer toxins# If choosing between glass, metal or plastic- choose glass or metal

#Preferred Packaging Hierarchy :• No packaging.• Minimal packaging.• Reusable packaging.• Recyclable packaging.

# Compost your yard waste & kitchen scraps# If using plastic use photodegradable or biodegradable plastic Cons:

Don’t go away completelyMay add toxins to soilNever decompose in sanitary landfillPeople may think littering is OK

• Reuse/resell things that are still good• Auto parts sold through junkyards- de

manufacturing• Salvage parts (doors, stained glass) from

old buildings• Some areas provide money to return

bottles for refilling• Donate clothing/toys to charities that will

sell them for money• Preferred over recycling because

material doesn’t have to be reprocessed

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

Recycling is a resource recovery practice that refers to the collection and reuse of waste materials such as empty beverage containers. The materials from which the items are made can be reprocessed into new products. 

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE (Cont…)

Reprocessing of discarded materials into new, useful products.

Recycle glass into other glass products Recycle tires into rubberized road surfacing

Problems:o Plastic recyclables can be contaminated by one PVC bottle

in a truckloado Plastic recycling is down 50% b/c so many people consume

these bottles on the go. Benefits:

o Saves water, energy, raw materials, land spaceo Lowers demand for raw resources- less deforestation,

miningo Producing aluminum from scrap instead of bauxite ore cuts

energy need by 95%o Reduces pollutiono Makes one think about waste they produceo Cut waste volumes & reduce pressure on landfillso Reduces litter problems